Redundancies could be on the cards at one of York's main education centres as it battles to balance its budget.

Bosses at York College have denied job losses are in the offing as a result of its merger with York Sixth Form College but has admitted it is set to launch a review of its staffing.

A source at the college, based on two sites in Tadcaster Road, has told the Evening Press that about 100 jobs could go as part of cutbacks.

It is thought both teaching and administrative staff would be affected.

The source said a memo was sent to staff last week warning of job losses.

And union Unison has confirmed it is aware that jobs at the college could be hit by budget cuts.

But a spokesman for the college said: "There will be no redundancies as a result of the merger.

"Acting on the findings of an independent research study which compares us with other colleges in the sector, we will be reviewing staffing at the college as a matter of course.

"The report was only presented on Monday and it is too early to draw any firm conclusions from it."

The spokesman confirmed that college principal, Mike Galloway, had sent a memo to staff "advising them on the situation" but refused to make any further comment.

Peter Household, convenor of the York branch of Unison, said: "Unison is aware of the fact that the college has budgetary problems which may affect jobs but we are not in a position to say anything further at the moment."

He said the union was expected to meet with the college's management some time in February.

When the merger was being planned in 1998, former chairman of governors at York Sixth Form College, Malcolm Hainsworth, claimed the move would reduce parental choice and could lead to the departure of teaching staff.

Mr Hainsworth said today: "It is an outrage. My view was that this was almost certain to occur.

"They will put a gloss on it and rationalise it but it actually means a lower level of service for sixth form pupils."

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